3M TECHNOLOGIES

Adhesives bond things together. 3M’s first adhesives were created for use in sandpaper in 1902. Today, 3M’s market-leading adhesives are combined with dozens of other technologies to attach, hold and release everything from automotive dashboards to wound dressings … in factories, hospitals and homes.

3M has developed a unique understanding of how human and bacterial biological systems interact with man-made surfaces and substances. The result is products that adhere to skin, sterilize surgical instruments and test for the presence of harmful bacteria in foods.

Ceramics are inorganic, non-metallic materials which are extremely strong and temperature-resistant. They create heat-resistant materials for the manufacturing industry, fillers and restoratives for the dental market, durable reflective materials for traffic safety, and colorful, long-lasting roofing materials.

Coated abrasives are flexible backings coated with a layer of adhesive, which holds another layer of abrasive granules. They were our first technology, and sandpaper was our first product. Today, there are more than 50,000 coated abrasives on the market, with worldwide sales of more than $2.3 billion.

Composite materials are made up of several discrete components. Categories include fluorine resin composites, polymer/metal combinations and fiber-reinforced aluminum alloys. Each is designed to have specialized characteristics, such as high strength, light weight, or high resistance to moisture.

3M works with a number of technologies that can be used to create vivid displays for instrumentation or information. Liquid crystal cells, plasma displays, electroluminescent films and others help make panels that are small, flat, flexible and readable in a wide variety of environments.

Electromechanical systems are mechanical devices controlled by electronic systems driven by accompanying software. The computerized controls help make mechanical systems faster, more versatile and more reliable … whether in printing, graphics production, health care, or packaging.

Computerized digital imaging and printing technology create high-quality images faster and more easily than traditional techniques. The technology is used in signs, decorative vehicle graphics, identification graphics, and large-format advertising graphics for walls, floors, trucks and buses.

Engineered films are thin layers of materials with specific high-performance characteristics. For example, multi-layer films are flexible and tear-resistant. Diamond-like carbon films are hard and corrosion-resistant. And porous films are breathable.

Light transmission through ultra-thin optical fibers was pioneered in the 1970s. Fiber optics handle higher rates of data flow than traditional copper wires, resulting in faster and clearer transmissions for telecommunications, illumination products, medical devices and a variety of innovative sensors.

Filtration involves the use of porous webs, films, matrices or ceramics to remove contaminants from gases or liquids. 3M’s first filtration products were personal protection respirators. Today, filtration technology is used in products to protect people, equipment, manufacturing processes and the environment.

Fluorochemicals and fluoropolymers contain fluorine. Fluorochemicals repel oil and water, or replace fluids in applications where oil and water can’t be used. Fluoropolymers are special plastics that give longer, more reliable life to products used in high temperatures and harsh chemical environments.

3M’s long-standing expertise in graphics printing has led to the development of market-leading inks, pigments and toners for electrostatic, ink-jet and screen printing … as well as the latest in computer-based color matching and control software for the screen printing and sign manufacturing industries.

In laser imaging, high-powered infrared lasers generate patterns on heat-sensitive substrates. The high-resolution images can be used in printed circuit boards, engineering drawings, graphics, and a variety of medical applications.

Mechanical fasteners have interlocking faces which latch when pressed together, and which can be opened and closed again and again. They’re used to attach everything from interior panels in airplanes to automotive dashboards … and the very latest in secure, easy-to-use diaper closures.

Melt processing uses heat to convert polymer resins into films, fibers or objects via extrusion, injection molding, coating or other processes. 3M began using extruded polymers in the 1950s. Today, more than 50% of our products use melt processes … and it will be 70% by the year 2000.

Microinterconnect systems are small, flexible, very dense electronic circuits used to connect parts of electronic assemblies and components. They incorporate advanced materials, such as adhesives, protective coatings and polymeric films, to create critical computer connections.

Microreplication is the creation of ultra-precise, three-dimensional surfaces on a variety of substrates. The surfaces can alter the physical, chemical and optical properties of the substrates and are used in optical products, structured abrasives and products that enhance traction of other devices.

Solid microscopic glass beads, added to paints and putties, reduce weight, extend coverage and provide abrasion resistance. They also create reflective properties in signs and safety markings. Hollow microspheres, filled with cosmetics or drugs, are used for product sampling and transdermal drug delivery.

Non-woven materials are formed with fibers which are blown, bonded, laid or stitched together. 3M’s first non-woven product was Sasheen brand ribbon, introduced in the 1940s. Today, 3M is the world leader in products made from non-woven materials … and they account for 10% of our sales.

Pharmaceuticals include not only drugs … but drug delivery systems as well. 3M manufactures a variety of both drugs and transdermal, transmucosal and breath-activated delivery systems to help patients receive their drug dosages in the most precise and convenient methods possible.

3M coating technology -- the process of replacing the air next to a substrate with a thin layer of another material -- began with our first product, sandpaper. Today, about 45 different coating methods are used in thousands of products that account for nearly 2/3 of 3M’s sales.

Radiation processing is the curing, cross-linking, grafting, polymerization, surface modification or sterilization of substances through the use of UV or visible light, or gamma rays. 3M applications since the 1950s include adhesives, electrical products, sterilization products and dental restoratives.

Retroreflective products shine light back toward its source, regardless of the angle. 3M introduced its first retroreflective sheeting for road signs in 1939. Today, applications include signs, markings and a growing number of items that ensure the security and authenticity of products and documents.

3M uses a variety of Teflon™ and non-woven membranes to separate chemicals and particulates in both analytical and process-scale operations. These include separating environmental pollutants from water, and many kinds of drug and biological chemical separations.

3M pioneered the use of adhesive products for the skin with its introduction of adhesive surgical drapes in the 1940s. Today, 3M skin adhesion technology is used in wound management, surgical infection control, cardiac monitoring, adhesive bandages and transdermal drug delivery systems.

Specialty materials are chemicals, components and/or additives which give special properties to other substances. They include polymers, resins and coatings that make other products light-curable, light-resistant, or as releasable or non-releasable as the customer needs.

Vibration control systems are polymers and other materials used to absorb shocks and control noise. They’re used to increase speed and capacity in computer disk drives … to reduce noise and vibration in automobiles and airplanes … and to control wind sway and earthquake vibrations in tall buildings.

Pioneered by 3M in the 1930s, weatherable films are decorative sheets with adhesive backings that replace paint in durable outdoor graphics. The films last longer than paint, have a more uniform appearance, and create brighter, more attractive signs and vehicle markings.